Here is the answer about Calc based Physics....

[OrganicMLover]

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The following links contains MCAT stats sorted by major. Math majors and physics science majors score a little higher on the MCAT. They take the Calc based physics classes. That is all the answer I need.

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2004/mcatgpabymaj1.htm

Those same stats indicate that math & stats majors as well as physical science majors do better on the biology section than biology majors. What does that say about bio majors ?

 

[Medikit]

Holy crap, post another thread about it

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=195054

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=195211

 

[SitraAchra]

The following links contains MCAT stats sorted by major. Math majors and physics science majors score a little higher on the MCAT. They take the Calc based physics classes. That is all the answer I need.

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2004/mcatgpabymaj1.htm

Those same stats indicate that math & stats majors as well as physical science majors do better on the biology section than biology majors. What does that say about bio majors ?

It must mean that regardless of how much work you put into studying for the MCAT, math and physics majors will automatically score higher on the PS. Furthermore, this is damning evidence that all biology majors are infact dumb because all math/stats and physical science majors score higher on the BS.

 

[OrganicMLover]

For some reason Medikit felt the compulsion to post his judgemental thoughts about my cal physics posts. I asked it to just ignore my posts of he didnt like them. He emailed me back with the following comments:

"Don't clutter the forums with your garbage and don't private message me again"

Who is this person ? Is it the God of this forum ? What kind of person emits rude commands like he has authority ?

Is this it usually so rude and abnoxious ?

 

[synapse lapse]

For some reason Medikit felt the compulsion to post his judgemental thoughts about my cal physics posts. I asked it to just ignore my posts of he didnt like them. He emailed me back with the following comments:

"Don't clutter the forums with your garbage and don't private message me again"

Who is this person ? Is it the God of this forum ? What kind of person emits rude commands like he has authority ?

Is this it usually so rude and abnoxious ?

Medikit is God Dude, your such an idiot. We told you cal isn't going to help, yet you don't believe us. So you see that math/stat majors do better on PS section and you conclude that it is due to the fact they've taken calc physics. Isn't it obvious to you the numerous other confounding factors, i.e. better at mathematical equations, lame with no life but to study, etc. Not to mention that you neglect the fact that English, History, and Philosophy majors score higher on VR section, so should you also take those classes as well? don't be a tool

 

[masterMood]

don't create another thread for it, just continue the original thread, and i believe this is number 5 for the same damn topic.

 

[Medikit]

For some reason Medikit felt the compulsion to post his judgemental thoughts about my cal physics posts. I asked it to just ignore my posts of he didnt like them. He emailed me back with the following comments:

"Don't clutter the forums with your garbage and don't private message me again"

Who is this person ? Is it the God of this forum ? What kind of person emits rude commands like he has authority ?

Is this it usually so rude and abnoxious ?

 

[SitraAchra]

LOL - i was wondering that that sentence meant until I read the actual quote of him saying it. Hahaha

 

[jeffsleepy]

Correlation != causation

 

[airadface]

Correlation != causation

you didn't do so well in stats class did you? 😉

 

[Pontifex Maximus]

haha. the difference is marginal at best

 

[on_the_fence]

you didn't do so well in stats class did you? 😉

?

correlation doesn't equal causation...

 

[Medikit]

?

correlation doesn't equal causation...

What? Weren't you paying attention in Sociology?

 

[Gotcha!]

Oh my god when I saw that picture I nearly died of laughter....
thats hilarious 😀

 

[jeffsleepy]

you didn't do so well in stats class did you? 😉

The exclamation mark isn't there just for fun you know.

computer science for the win!

 

[45408]

you didn't do so well in stats class did you? 😉

somebody doesn't know that != != =

Either you didn't do so well with computers, or you didn't do so well in logic. Post hoc ergo propter hoc. Read up on it. 😉

 

[45408]

Those same stats indicate that math & stats majors as well as physical science majors do better on the biology section than biology majors. What does that say about bio majors ?

You're ignoring the number of people involved. Only 250 math majors applied for medical school. Over 20,000 biology majors applied for medical school. Hmmmm. 🙄 Maybe all the bandwagoners jumped for biology without any idea what they were getting into, and simply served to drag down the averages. I scored higher than the average math student, and I'm a bio major. 😱 what does that show?

 

[Sparky Man]

You're ignoring the number of people involved. Only 250 math majors applied for medical school. Over 20,000 biology majors applied for medical school. Hmmmm. 🙄 Maybe all the bandwagoners jumped for biology without any idea what they were getting into, and simply served to drag down the averages. I scored higher than the average math student, and I'm a bio major. 😱 what does that show?

so you don't think there's any difference, on average, between the mind of a math major and that of a bio major? i do, and i'm sure it's an advantage for physical sciences.

 

[Medikit]

so you don't think there's any difference, on average, between the mind of a math major and that of a bio major? i do, and i'm sure it's an advantage for physical sciences.

I think there is a difference between the average bio major and the average math major. I don't think that means anything at all when it comes to an individual choosing to take Calculus based physics versus Trig based physics.


But this is why I think the statistics exist as they do. The average pre-med typically goes with biology; biology is the closest science to medicine and is the easiest way to knock down the necessary pre-reqs. A lot of pre-meds run into trouble as they start taking difficult science classes and many typically remove themselves from the application process when they see their chances of making it into medical school dwindling. I think that Biology majors especially are the least likely to remove themselves from the application process because many of them chose their major specifically for medical school. This means that a lot of biology majors are taking the MCAT and applying to medical school even though their chances of attending are slim at best. Math majors on the other hand probably chose their major because they enjoy math. I think that people who enjoy math are also likely to do extremely well in the sciences, thus the math major actually selects for the kind of people who will probably have a great chance at being accepted to medical school.

 

[Sparky Man]

I think there is a difference between the average bio major and the average math major. I don't think that means anything at all when it comes to an individual choosing to take Calculus based physics versus Trig based physics.

But this is why I think the statistics exists as they do. The average pre-med typically goes with biology; biology is the closest science to medicine and is the easiest way to knock down the necessary pre-reqs. A lot of pre-meds run into trouble as they start taking difficult science classes and many typically remove themselves from the application process when they see their chances of making it into medical school dwindling. I think that Biology majors especially are the least likely to remove themselves from the application process because many of them chose their major specifically for medical school. This means that a lot of biology majors are taking the MCAT and applying to medical school even though their chances of attending are slim at best. Math majors on the other hand probably chose their major because they enjoy math. I think that people who enjoy math are also likely to do extremely well in the sciences, thus the math major actually selects for the kind of people who will probably have a great chance at being accepted to medical school.

Good point, motivation is definitely a factor. As far as trig-based vs. calc-based physics, I saw calculus as an avenue to become more analytical. Often, from one simple caculus based relationship, several inferences can be drawn. This can help on the mcat. However, trig-based is probably more than adequate.

 

[willthatsall]

I think anyone who has actually taken the MCAT knows that calc-based physics does not help compared to trig-based physics. The physics principles on the MCAT are very basic.

 

[45408]

so you don't think there's any difference, on average, between the mind of a math major and that of a bio major? i do, and i'm sure it's an advantage for physical sciences.

No, not particularly. I think Medikit explained it perfectly though. Besides, comparing 250 people to 20,000 people is a bit extreme.

 

[Medikit]

I scored higher than the average math student, and I'm a bio major. 😱 what does that show?

Obviously it shows that if you would have been a math major you would have scored a 40.

 

[Sparky Man]

Obviously it shows that if you would have been a math major you would have scored a 40.

yeah, but there's always that possibility your social skills will plummet as a math major. kidding, of course...

 

[Freakingout]

yeah, but there's always that possibility your social skills will plummet as a math major. kidding, of course...

I don't know, to become a math major you already have to have such a low degree of social skills that I don't know if you can actually measure a significant deviation after you are enrolled and taking classes.

 

[Ross434]

I think there is a difference between the average bio major and the average math major. I don't think that means anything at all when it comes to an individual choosing to take Calculus based physics versus Trig based physics.


But this is why I think the statistics exist as they do. The average pre-med typically goes with biology; biology is the closest science to medicine and is the easiest way to knock down the necessary pre-reqs. A lot of pre-meds run into trouble as they start taking difficult science classes and many typically remove themselves from the application process when they see their chances of making it into medical school dwindling. I think that Biology majors especially are the least likely to remove themselves from the application process because many of them chose their major specifically for medical school. This means that a lot of biology majors are taking the MCAT and applying to medical school even though their chances of attending are slim at best. Math majors on the other hand probably chose their major because they enjoy math. I think that people who enjoy math are also likely to do extremely well in the sciences, thus the math major actually selects for the kind of people who will probably have a great chance at being accepted to medical school.

Yeah i agree. There are a lot of bio majors who really arent smart enough and or arent good enough studiers to do well in med school. Math and physical science majors are practically nerds by definition. \m/ which means that they'll probably in general be more likely to do well. there are obviously good bio people too, but, the average bio major is probably a normal person, whereas the average math major is hardcore studying. But apart from this, i definitely think the analytical skills learned in calc-physics/engineering/advanced math really provides these students with better analytical skills than most bio majors, so, they do better on mcat.

 

[fun8stuff]

The following links contains MCAT stats sorted by major. Math majors and physics science majors score a little higher on the MCAT. They take the Calc based physics classes. That is all the answer I need.

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2004/mcatgpabymaj1.htm

Those same stats indicate that math & stats majors as well as physical science majors do better on the biology section than biology majors. What does that say about bio majors ?

I am a biology major. I guess that makes my 13 and 12 in physical and biological sciences fake. That sucks. 🙄

Although I took calculus, I took trig based physics... and did very well on the physcial sciences section, no thanks to calculus or anything of the sort. You seem to be having a problem understanding the cause and effect... the physical sciences and math majors are not doing better because of their chosen major- the data does not indicate this. The data indicates that people with these majors do better- the cause is unknown.

Have you noticed that there are a lot fewer people from math and PS majors? I would speculate that they are doing better because the group of physical science and math majors that choose to apply to medical school are very intelligent. Everybody in their brother that wants to be premed are bio majors, so the avg test score tends to regress toward the mean.....

 

[lorelei]

Re: cause and effect, I think there's some of each.

The math/PS type majors do teach you critical-thinking skills (I definitely used some engineering skills on the MCAT) and that's important. Of course, there are plenty of other places to learn critical thinking.

Also, I strongly suspect the average math major is smarter than the average bio major to begin with. Of the ones who apply to med school, I wouldn't be surprised if that were even more pronounced. (Obviously I'm talking about averages; I know several extremely bright bio majors and a few dim math/PS majors.)

 

[willthatsall]

I am a biology major...

Although I took calculus, I took trig based physics... and did very well on the physcial sciences section, no thanks to calculus or anything of the sort.

Same story here, 14 on PS. I think people are getting away from the original point, which is that calc-based physics will not prepare you any better for the MCAT than trig-based will because the stuff on the MCAT is not that difficult. If anything, I would argue that trig-based physics might actually help a little more for the MCAT because the class tends to be taught with the MCAT in mind in a lot of places because a large portion of the people who take that level of physics plan on taking the MCAT. Calc-based physics on the other hand probably covers a lot of stuff that is outside the realm of the MCAT, thereby wasting your time if you are just doing the pre-med thing. Now, the calc-based physics people will still do better on the PS section because they are, on average, better at math/smarter than the people who take trig-based physics. But that doesn't mean it had something to do with them taking calc-based physics instead of trig-based. So if anyone is trying to decide which series to take, I would encourage you not to take a chance at letting your grades suffer taking calc-based physics with the MCAT in mind. If you are interested in physics, then by all means go for it; but don't expect it to prepare you better for the MCAT.